This article adds to my learning of the nervous system, raises social and technological issues and advances and entices me to exercise more frequently to keep my neural links firing for a long time.
The article specifically explains how the nerve fibres are developed in the human embryo and the research being done in hopes of repairing a severed spinal cord adds a real life application to my knowledge of the nervous system. The diagram in the article illustrates a clear picture of the relationship between the spinal cord and the neuron which enhances my knowledge of the nervous system.
There are moral implications using aborted fetal tissues and harvesting their nerve cells and transplanted in humans. There has been debate about whether it would be proper to use, so to avoid moral dilemmas, scientists discovered other methods to repair damaged nerve fibres. There are also developments in technology with transforming and transplanting nerve cells. Discoveries to repair damaged nerve fibres would be very exciting for people who are permanently paralysis. It would be a great breakthrough for society. This article also encourages people to exercise often to keep neural link firing properly and reducing the risk of nerve damage by free radicals.
Current Events
DNA, Jim, but not as we know it
This article talks about a new discovery of DNA-like molecules using unnatural versions of the DNA bases. The result is a molecule that is more structurally stabile than natural DNA and can resist breakdowns by DNA-degrading enzymes in cells. The article explains the possible future uses of this molecular particularly in engineering. I chose this article because I thought it was really interesting how they can manipulate the structure of DNA to create a molecule that can form a double helix as well as a triple helix, which is created by replacing the regular bond with a triple bond. I did not know the structure of DNA could be rearranged to create other molecules. This discovery shows how flexible the DNA structure is; it is really fascinating. I support the idea of synthesizing DNA into other DNA-like molecules to explore the DNA structure and to customize more forms of the structure. This article relates to our learning of DNA, its bases and the basic double helix structure. The article demonstrates that the DNA structure is very flexible and is not just fixed to the general structure we are learning. The discovery of the artificial DNA could be a building framework for constructing medical and nanotechnological structures. Also it creates opportunities to construct more DNA-like molecules that has the ability to store information. The capability to modify DNA’s structural characteristics could gives nanotechnologist more control as a material for engineering. It is more evidence of how technologically advanced our world is becoming.
Works Cited
Barry, Patrick. "DNA, Jim, but not as we know it." Science News 2 Aug. 2008: 15.
Current Events
The Promise and Power of RNA
This article talks about the discovery of RNA interference against the production of the protein PCSK9 that causes the body to have high levels of cholesterol. It describes the importance of RNA and its ability to take out the genes that causes diseases or even cancer. It talks about the different arguments of the possibility of RNA interference in humans, the side effects, the precision of silencing genes and the method of the delivery of the drug. The article concludes by stating that RNA plays a powerful role in how the gene functions but the limit to its role is still a mystery. I chose this article because I thought it was really interesting to learn how powerful RNA truly is. I always thought of RNA as a sidekick to the DNA and nothing more. I believe this discovery could be the start many cures in the medical world and putting RNA in a whole different light. This article relates to our course study of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. We have learned that the genetic code for protein is transcribed through making a copy of a DNA strand. The copy is RNA, which then carries out to the cytoplasm to be transcribed by ribosomes. But scientists are now finding that a lot of DNA is transcribed into RNA without it leading to the production of protein. The RNA itself seems to be involved in determining which genes are active and which proteins are produced. I think the discovery of RNA interference is very amazing and it has the potential to do great things in the medical world like curing diseases and cancer. It is making progress in lowering cholesterol levels in the body and there are already companies testing a RNA interference drug that can be inhaled to treat a respiratory virus, drugs to treat age-related macular degeneration. RNA interference could change medicine forever.
